Judy Roberts Quartet

Singer-pianist Judy Roberts' engagement this week at the Jazz Showcase will not be easy for her. Though she's eager to return to the city where she long based her career, before moving to Phoenix five years ago, this outing will be different. This time, Chicago bassist Nick Tountas ¿ who famously played in her London House trio of the 1960s and frequently thereafter ¿ won't be there. Tountas died in February at age 77 of cardiac arrest, and Roberts says she's not sure how she's going to make it through her shows without him. 8 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 4, 8 and 10 p.m. Sunday at Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Ct.; $20-$25; 312-360-0234 or jazzshowcase.comRead the full Judy Roberts interview

Singer-pianist Judy Roberts' engagement this week at the Jazz Showcase will not be easy for her. Though she's eager to return to the city where she long based her career, before moving to Phoenix five years ago, this outing will be different. This time, Chicago bassist Nick Tountas ¿ who famously played in her London House trio of the 1960s and frequently thereafter ¿ won't be there. Tountas died in February at age 77 of cardiac arrest, and Roberts says she's not sure how she's going to make it through her shows without him. 8 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 4, 8 and 10 p.m. Sunday at Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Ct.; $20-$25; 312-360-0234 or jazzshowcase.comRead the full Judy Roberts interview